Demonstration Sites What are they, and who cares?

What is a Demonstration Site? Sites that represent the 4 classification combinations of site moisture and fire severity. Tool to educate public about fire’s role in ecosystem. Change negative views of fire, better understanding… –BLM public meetings –UAF public outreach –Media access

Research Plot PLEASE DO NOT DISTURB Jill Johnstone: (306) Boreal Ecology Cooperative Research Unit CONTACTS: Teresa Nettleton Hollingsworth: (907) You are standing near the edge of an area where research is being conducted on forest recovery after fire. The Managing Fire with Fire in Alaska Black Spruce Forests project is supported by the Joint Fire Science Program, USDA Forest Service, Bonanza Creek Long-Term Ecological Research, and University of Alaska Fairbanks. This research project aims to predict patterns of post fire regeneration and future stand flammability based on pre-fire environmental conditions and fire severity from the 2004 Boundary wildfire. These relationships can be used by managers to asses how changes in fire conditions can affect forest composition and habitat quality in the future. In particular, we are looking at how variations in site moisture, and differences in fire consumption of vegetation and soil organic material, affect subsequent patterns of forest recovery. For example, areas where the fire burned away much of the organic soil have a higher chance of regenerating to low flammability, deciduous forests. Long-term research on how changes in fire conditions affect forest recovery can provide managers with valuable tools for effective management of wildland fire in interior Alaska.

Where are the Demonstration Sites?

Who uses the sites? Land Managers –Managing for wildlife habitat –Managing for fire prevention surrounding communities Perspective Fire Researchers –Graduate students –Academia, local and international School Groups Interested Public –Web site –Contact information on signs JFS Governing Board

Using JFSP Demonstration Sites What happens when… 50 first graders, 2 fifth graders, 8 parents, 10 UAF ed. students, 2 teachers and 5 ecologists converge at the JFSP Demo sites?

Dr. T shows exclosures Making a hypothesisCounting Seedlings Permafrost probing!Hiking up the CPCRW roadVegetation transects

Using JFSP Demonstration Sites Collaborators- Chris Villano and Deana Martin-Muth, Denali Elementary Funding Partners- BECRU-Joint Fire Science Program Center for Global Change and Arctic System Research Schoolyard LTER (BNZ) Salcha-Delta Soil and Water Conservation District Invasive Plants of Alaska K-6 Curriculum Development Project

Using JFSP Demonstration Sites Objectives- Adapt and apply current Alaskan invasive plant research to elementary-level classroom lessons, activities, and inquiries. Publish and distribute Invasive Plants of Alaska comprehensive K-6 curriculum guide addressing Alaska Science Performance Standards, Grade Level Expectations and Core Concepts. Create and distribute teaching materials kits for easy classroom implementation of Invasive Plants of Alaska lessons, activities and inquiries. Invasive Plants of Alaska K-6 Curriculum Development Project